In an unforgettable closing chapter of the Titan Desert 2026, Luis Ángel Maté, known as the 'Lynx of Marbella' from KH7, alongside Dutch cyclist Tessa Kortekaas from Massi ISB, have etched their names in the annals of this grueling event held in Morocco. The final stage, spanning 78 kilometers from Merzouga to Maadid, culminated in a thrilling finish where Spanish cyclist Josep Termens emerged victorious, edging out newcomer Jonathan Castroviejo.
Emotions ran high at the finish line in Maadid as the newly crowned champions could not hold back their tears upon securing their final winner's jerseys, the iconic red and blue. Termens, after a remarkable 13 participations in the Titan, finally celebrated a long-held dream as he raised his arms in triumph, tears flowing as a symbol of his hard-fought achievement.
Following Termens and Castroviejo's finish, a colorful celebration unfolded as Tessa Kortekaas crossed the finish line. The former triathlete, now firmly established in Lanzarote, achieved a dual milestone: not only did she clinch her third Titan victory, but she also brought herself one step closer to matching Anna Ramírez's record of four wins. Kortekaas finished third in this stage and secured an impressive seventh place overall.
With three victories in Morocco, two in Almería, and one in Saudi Arabia, Kortekaas has solidified her status in the Titan World Series. Overwhelmed with emotion, she expressed, "I have no words to describe what I feel. I went through a crisis of confidence, but I recovered and came here to confirm that I had found my rhythm. This victory means so much to me."
Another highlight of the day was Luis Ángel Maté, a former road professional and a true cycling romantic, who showcased his prowess by winning the first stage with authority and establishing a 9-minute lead to secure his first victory in the Moroccan Titan. Recently triumphing in the Titan of Patagonia, Maté has now earned the title of the 'Desert Fox'.
In his moment of glory, Maté dedicated his victory to those who have influenced his cycling journey, including his parents who introduced him to cycling in Morocco, and the late Italian cyclists Michele Scarponi, with whom he shared time on the Androni team, and Davide Rebellin, his sporting mentor.
The Titan Desert concluded with Maté and Kortekaas shining as the main stars of the event, which was characterized by its challenging terrain and the notable absence of key competitors such as Luis León Sánchez, Noel Martín, and Pablo Guerrero. This edition also marked a historical moment with the first female cyclist breaking into the top ten overall standings.
Maté proudly ascended the podium alongside Portuguese cyclist Bruno Rosa in second place and Vicente Quiles in third. Another newcomer, Dani Moreno, who also clinched a stage victory, narrowly missed out on the podium. In the women's category, Kortekaas celebrated her success alongside Pilar Fernández from Madrid and Petra Planickova from the Czech Republic.
As reported by esciclismo.com.
